Unique Community Identity: Meyersdale Around the turn of the nineteenth century, agricultural processing facilities began to appear in Meyersdale, with at least one gristmill and distillery having been established by 1800. These facilities were located along Flaugherty Creek, on what we refer to today as the Meyers Tract. Many of these resources are gone, but there are still some buildings that convey this important phase in the community’s development. With the completion of the railroad in 1871, the character of Meyersdale changed. But its agricultural origins are still celebrated in the community.
Meyers Mansion is the centerpiece of Maple Festival Park, where the community celebrates their agricultural heritage – namely maple sugaring – each spring.
The H. H. Stahl Distillery is one of very few surviving resources in Meyersdale that reflects its pre-railroad period of development as an agricultural processing center.
Meyersdale has a number of resources related to non-rail related transportation, including historic bridges, automobile service centers, and even a drive in motel and diner.
CONCLUSION The Trail Towns share many common aspects of their history that are reflected in the appearance of the community today. The railroads, industries, commercial centers, residences and community resources link them to one another. However, the unique identities of the communities should also be identified and highlighted, their stories and the places that allow them to be communicated to others preserved and used.
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Appendix A: Development History and Historic Resource Inventory | Progress through Preservation